Composition of matter for treating solid fuel



Patented Apr. 7, 1931 UNITED STATES FRED L. MENNIE, OF OMAHA, NEBRASKA COMPOSITION OF MATTER FOR TREATING SOLID FUEL No Drawing.

This invention relates to a composition of matter found to be of advantage in treating natural coal or fuel briquettes which are manufactured primarily from natural coal dust or coal screenings.

An object of the invention is to provide a means whereby the cost of generating heat by the use of coal will be less than as heretofore practiced.

A further object of the invention is to rovide a means whereby accumulations offinsulating soot upon the walls and fire pot of a furnace will be caused to burn or disin tegrate and thereby be removed through the flue of the furnace.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a means for decreasing what is conventionally known I as the smoke nuisance which is prevalent in most cities where the cheaper grades of coal are used.

Other and further objects and advantages of the invention will be understood from the following detailed description:

The composition of matter consists of the following preferred ingredients:

Potassium permanganate (KMnO potassium chlorate (K010 and salt (NaCl), said ingredients being dissolved in a carrying 31%? Oglistributing vehicle such as water 2 The preferred proportions of the ingredients are:

6% by weight of the potassium permanganate, 12% by weight of the potassium chlorate, 32% by weight of table salt and 50% by weight of crushed rock salt. The foregoing substances are mixed in the said preferred proportions so that the composition is equal in weight to one-half pound. The said one-half pound of the said substances when mixed in the said preferred proportions are packed in containers ready to be later dissolved in water, the quantity of the latter being, preferably, in volume four gallons.

The water functions as a carrying body and is adapted to dissolve the said ingredients and hold the latter in solution and inan even distribution throughout the said body. Substantially four gallons of the mixture Application filed December 5, 1929. Serial No.- 411,990.

is suflicient, in proportion, for the treatment of one ton of coal.

The composition of matter is spread over the. coal by any suitable means, such as by the use of a compressed air gun or the like. The solution compounded and applied as above described permeates into the coal and in time the moisture will evaporate thereby leaving a distributed residue of the operative ingredients throughout the coal.

In operation, when coal treated as above described is placed into a glowing furnace the potassium permanganate, which is a very strong oxidizing agent, liberates substantially pure oxygen. The potassium chlorate, which is also an oxidizing agent, aids and stimulates combustion upon contacting with the fuel gases of the coal causing a substantially complete combustion thereof and subsequent burning of said valuable fuel gases, portions of which have heretofore needlessly escaped unused to the atmosphere through the chimney flue of the furnace. I

The potassium permanganate alone is adapted to perform the valuable function of liberating and supplying oxygen at the source of burnin of the fuel gas, especially in instances w ere the normal supply of oxygen by means of the furnace drafts is cut ofi? on account of careless firing or b means of accumulations of clinkers and as es preventing the draft-air from being evenly distributed through the coal'and fire.

The potassium chlorate alone is also adaptedto perform the above mentioned function and in addition thereto stimulates late combustion of the fuel.

The speed of the combustion depends primarily upon the extent to which the oxygen becomes distributed through the fuel gas as the latter escapes from the coal particles, a small minute amount of oxygen being present at the source of the burning of the fuel gas aids the combustion of the latter by reacting with the volatiles escaping from the coal particles.

The salt or salts is adapted to cause long yellow luminous flames which produce substantially four times the number of heat units as would otherwise be obtained from the buminfirof plain coal.

he said salts. produce brilliant, yellow flames of long burning characteristics.

These flames have exceptionally high co-efficients of heat radiation. The furnace and .fire pot walls are thus rapidly heated to ahigh temperature and the accumulation of soot begins to glow and burn away.

The combustion is speeded by contact with the clean metal surfaces heated by means of the salts, said surfaces function as catalysts,

which are adapted to concentrate the reacting gases on said surfaces, where the reaction takes place much more rapidly and completely than in the main body of the gases.

The burning gases concentrate on the glowing deposits of carbon, where their burning accelerates the combustion and removal ofthe latter. As thus described it will be understood that the furnace walls, being thus cleaned of the insulating carbon, will reach a temperature of incandescence, at which temperature the catalysis due to hot surfaces proceeds at a high rate of efficiency.

As above described means are provided for efficient combustion within the bed of coal particles which is augmented at the edges thereof adjacent the metal parts of the furnace. The union of the salt with potassium permanganate or potassium chlorate or with 0th elements produces eflicient results.

An advantage gained by burning coal treated as above described is the prevention of smoke by increasing the efliciency of combustion by means of the presence of potassium permanganate and potassium chlorate in the coal, said efficiency being further amplified by providing a means for the removal of carbon deposits, said means bein the salts.

It is believed to be obvious that the proportions of the ingredients as herein stated is susceptible of considerable modification and such modification as is Within the'sco e of my claim I consider Within the spirit of my invention.

I claim A fuel treating compound comprising by weight substantially potassium permanganate 6%, potassium chlorate 12%, table salt 32%, crushed rock salt 50%, and water by volume 4 gallons.

In testimony whereof, I have afiixed my signature.

FRED L. MENNIE. 

